Nick Henderson is the CEO of the Irish Refugee Council and is responsible for operational management, fundraising, advocacy and policy development, media and day to day governance. Nick reports to our Board of Directors.
Prior to his appointment as CEO in October 2016, Nick managed ‘Integrity at Work’, an initiative of Transparency International Ireland promoting supportive working environments for whistleblowers. Nick has also managed Amnesty International Ireland’s work on economic, social and cultural rights, was Legal Officer with the Irish Refugee Council’s Law Centre and the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland. Prior to coming to Ireland, he was a legal representative for people seeking asylum with the Refugee Legal Centre in London and Legal Officer with Jesuit Refugee Service in Cambodia.
Nick graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University and Brussels School of International Studies. Nick was called to the Bar of Ireland in 2015. In his spare time, he likes music, football, cricket and, when he gets the chance, surfing out west.
Email Nick
Our Information and Advocacy Service is comprised of four full time Caseworkers, two volunteer Caseworkers, Receptionist and Triage Officer and a Manager responsible for the providing critical information to refugees and people seeking protection.
Learn more about their work and how to contact them here.
Our Independent Law Centre, comprised of a Managing Solicitor, a Solicitor, Caseworker and a Trainee Solicitor, provides legal representation to people seeking protection.
Our Education Officer is responsible for managing our Education Fund and helping refugees and people seeking protection, who are adults, understand the Irish education system and their entitlements.
We have two Employment Officers and a Manager. The team provides people in the protection process with information and support they need to find employment in Ireland.
With two staff members, our Youth Work team supports young people in the international protection process to start on and cope with life in Ireland through several projects.
The Housing programme is delivered by our Housing Officer by conducting tailored workshops and one to one support to people transitioning from direct provision.
Learn more about the work and how to contact her here.
We have a dedicated team member providing critical information to those who fled and are fleeing the war in Ukraine.
Our Community Sponsorship team of two works with community groups looking to sponsor refugees granted status before arriving in Ireland.
Our Resettlement Officer works with people who arrive with status, helping them to settle in Ireland.
Learn more about the work and how to contact them here.
We have two Policy Officers working strategically to influence policy and promote the rights and dignity of refugees in Ireland.
For our Operations, Communications, Fundraising and Finance functions, we have four colleagues working full-time with the CEO's support to meet the respective needs of the organisation.